Empty Nest? Fill it with a Grateful Cat

Tucked behind the Wilton Town Hall and Police headquarters is an annex building that houses animal control. Sharing the building is a separate, volunteer run organization called Animals in Distress.

The shelter's director, Katherine Reid, oversees 14 shifts and a roster of about 20 volunteers who are willing to clean and feed the 20-30 feline residents of the tight quarters. 

A step inside the facility - a cat room plus an adjacent galley kitchen - often puzzles first-time visitors. At first glance, the space, full of climbing towers, scratch posts and wicker baskets, reveals a handful of cats. But stand still for a few moments and the population increases as the cats, who are allowed to roam freely, begin to stir. The friendlier ones approach, brush a leg and begin to purr. Others are more reluctant. 

The volunteers know each and every cat by name and can recite the story of where they came from, their age, and their personality. There are the Three "Z's" – Zoe, Zeke and Zeus – who will need to be adopted together since they're so bonded that they sleep snuggled together in a basket at night. Then there's Peppy. And Princess. What most of them have in common is their maturity. Many are 10, 11, or event 15-year-olds, though a few are just three or four. And therein lies the challenge. 

Finding a home for a senior cat is tricky, though Reid said that recently, Patch readers who follow the Animals in Distress blog have come through with forever homes for three cats.

"I think that adopting a senior cat is an honor," said Reid. "Besides, a 10-year-old cat may still live many years."

Animals in Distress has been offering cats hope since 1966. They take in stray cats but not ferals. When they take in kittens, they foster them in private homes rather than mix them with the adult cats and are willing to collaborate with potential foster families on what type of cat or kittens they would like to take in. 

Cats who are truly in distress are their first priority. When they have room, they take in cats from individuals whose circumstances have changed. In either case, unless the animal's medical history is known and documented, new additions are brought to a veterinarian for FIV and feline leukemia testing, rabies, distemper vaccinations, and when necessary, spaying or neutering. 

The organization, a non-profit, also accepts donations of food and cat litter. A wish list is available on their website and Reid said that donors can even order via Amazon and have their in-kind donations delivered to the annex's door. Alternately, donors can drop off items in the annex's vestibule (open 8:00am - 4:00pm) where a large green plastic bin and adjacent table filled up over the day with cans and bags of food and bags of litter.

Of course all the veterinary costs, tests and procedures for 20-30 cats adds up. Animals in Distress is grateful for any donations that help offset these costs and Reid said that both Darien Animal Hospital and Cannondale Animal Clinic have been generous. 

To see a full list of adoptable cats, click on Animals in Distress Petfinder page. Volunteers also post adoptable cats and more details on their backgrounds and personalities, plus happy endings, on the organization's Facebook page.